Dove and Rainbow

09/06/2026

We're here all week in solidarity with all of you who are not gonna get soggy in a big field, and there's no big screen here, so you can avoid the Footy too :-)

08/06/2026

As promised, I'll be in the pub (and happy to see anyone) from open til close Tuesday, Wed and Thursday, and there'll be someone on the bar with me 5-9, if you'd like me to sit down with you and give you my undivided attention...

This week's Public Service Announcement relates to jobs, and the problems many of you are having in getting one.

Firstly, to clarify, I don't have any jobs to give, and if I did, we don't employ people we know. However, from talking to quite a few of you, I know how demoralising you are finding it applying for many many jobs, and not getting anywhere. Especially for those of you just starting out, with no "experience" to offer.

I've made this offer before, but probably not recently, so give it some thought, and come and see me for a chat if you think it might help. I'm more than happy to sit down with anyone, whether I know you personally or not, and have a look at your CV, covering letter and job search in general. I might not be able to help, but what's the harm in giving it a try?

I can't offer advice on benefits, what the job centre expects you to be doing, or at the other end of the spectrum, very specialised career paths. I also know nothing about AI ( which should be no surprise to anyone!). What I can hopefully help you with is your CV in general, and also, more importantly customising your application to suit a particular role that you REALLY want.

Next week, I'll be in the pub more during the day and early evening than usual, as Georgia is off to Download (again!), and I'll let you know next week when you can expect to find me in the pub. You don't need to "make an appointment", but if you let me know, I'll make sure I'm free to see you. All the prep I'll ask you to do is to bring with you a copy of your generic CV and covering letter, email or statement, and an example of the kind of jobs you are applying for, as well as at least ONE that you would really like.

Its got to be worth 10 mins of your time, and mine, if there's even a chance it might help...

07/06/2026

This Friday we'll be playing Mr Ted's Lucky Balls again! It's a bit like Hook a Duck, but instead of catching a duck, you pick one of Mr Ted's Balls, to see whether you've won either a free shot or a prize - everyone's a winner :-)

05/06/2026

It's Hook a Duck again tonight! And for anyone still looking to sell or get hold of a Download ticket, we're happy to act as match-maker. We "think" everyone we know who was selling, has done so, but still know of some who want to go, last minute. So if you make yourselves know to us this weekend (sellers and seekers), we're happy to take your details and pass them on - sorry I didn't think of this until late last night! (Obvious disclaimer, we take no responsibility etc etc, and in-person, rather than on-line in the comments, is more likely to be genuine rather than a scammer bot, unless its's someone you actually know...)

04/06/2026

As always, the Dove remains a Football Free and Big Screen Free Zone, so we're somewhere you can avoid the Football in the coming weeks if you want to. However we are not a Sam Smiths Pub and you will not be penalised for having something on your phone... :-)

03/06/2026

This week's Public Service Announcement relates to jobs, and the problems many of you are having in getting one.

Firstly, to clarify, I don't have any jobs to give, and if I did, we don't employ people we know. However, from talking to quite a few of you, I know how demoralising you are finding it applying for many many jobs, and not getting anywhere. Especially for those of you just starting out, with no "experience" to offer.

I've made this offer before, but probably not recently, so give it some thought, and come and see me for a chat if you think it might help. I'm more than happy to sit down with anyone, whether I know you personally or not, and have a look at your CV, covering letter and job search in general. I might not be able to help, but what's the harm in giving it a try?

I can't offer advice on benefits, what the job centre expects you to be doing, or at the other end of the spectrum, very specialised career paths. I also know nothing about AI ( which should be no surprise to anyone!). What I can hopefully help you with is your CV in general, and also, more importantly customising your application to suit a particular role that you REALLY want.

Next week, I'll be in the pub more during the day and early evening than usual, as Georgia is off to Download (again!), and I'll let you know next week when you can expect to find me in the pub. You don't need to "make an appointment", but if you let me know, I'll make sure I'm free to see you. All the prep I'll ask you to do is to bring with you a copy of your generic CV and covering letter, email or statement, and an example of the kind of jobs you are applying for, as well as at least ONE that you would really like.

Its got to be worth 10 mins of your time, and mine, if there's even a chance it might help...

02/06/2026

Free shots and prizes to be won again at Friday's Hook a Duck :-)

29/05/2026

It's our Download Warm-up Party tonight, and if there's a band you'd like to hear on our sound system, just write it down at the end of the bar (we all struggle to multi-task and remember if you just "ask"!) and the bar staff will pop it on for you.

We have a limited stock of sturdy re-usable handled plastic Festival Pint Pots, which will be free to pick up from the end of the bar, so please help yourselves, as they are just gathering dust in the cellar

27/05/2026

Today's Public Service Announcement from the Dove comes to you with the aid of the National Sleep Charity
https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/information-support/adults/

Over recent years I've struggled a lot with poor sleep and the vicious circle that creates. Late nights and stress have a lot to answer for! A bad night's sleep, lying awake with a voice in my head that won't shut up; waking up and not being able to get back to sleep again, so I get up late, still tired and the same happens the next night and the next...

I've got 2 main takeaways (no, not THAT type of high calorie late night snack) to share with you from a recent on-line Session that Punch sent my way (yes, they are not ALL bad). Firstly you need enough time awake, up and doing things, to let your body's natural sleep cycle do its thing when you try to go to sleep. About 16 hours awake apparently, so that means 12 hours in bed, struggling to sleep, just doesn't add up. You need to get your good quality 8 hours sleep (I'm still on about 9-10, so a big improvement, but not quite there yet, I'm still getting into the habit...), but how on earth do you manage that, when you are not sleeping??

The second BIG thing is how to stop that annoying constant chatter in your brain that is stopping you getting that good quality sleep that you need, and stopping you get back to sleep every time you wake up (apparently that happens, in our pre-historic brain, so we can check regularly that we are not about to be eaten by a tiger!!). Heavy Metal is the answer. No, not THAT kind - sadly I can't recommend loud rock music to send you to sleep. Magnesium, but not the kind you get in High Street shops (Magnesium Oxide), as that is the type that your body struggles to absorb properly (but is cheaper and more profitable), so a lot of people have already tried Magnesium and decided it doesn't work for them. I've researched it and found the Nutrition Geeks one from Amazon, with good positive feedback and not excessively expensive (other brands are also available, as my algorithm driven news feed now keep showing me!) seems to work for me.

I'm not saying it'll work for everyone, and quick disclaimer, not my fault if it works so well you sleep through your alarm, but having seen the difference personally in the last few days, I couldn't not share it, and if it helps just 1 person, this post is worth it. Also please seek professional / medical advice if appropriate - I'm just sharing Hippy (and scientifically proven) thinking...

24/05/2026

Just a reminder that Sundays and Mondays are for sleeping, and that the rest of the week, we're happy to go later than 11pm if we've got people in, but that once we've decided we're heading to bed and mentally got our PJs on, you're probably too late to change our minds. So if we're still going strong and the shutters and at least one door are still open, feel free to pop your head in and ask, but if you're hoping for a late one, its generally best to be in by 10.30, to be sure.

And as people start planning for the big Dove Camp in a field somewhere, next Friday is our Download Music Warm-up Party, with the bar staff in charge of the tunes, and the theme very much Download bands, to get you all in the mood. And due to popular request, the following Friday is looking likely to be Duck-themed :-)